Arigatou International will convene the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Sixth Forum from November 19 – 21, 2024. The Forum, to be hosted by the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities (IAFSC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will bring together children, youth, religious leaders, policymakers, governmental, intergovernmental, and multilateral organizations, and grassroots child rights workers to discuss and recommend proposals for action on some of the most critical issues facing children globally.
The GNRC, an initiative of Arigatou International, is the world’s largest interfaith network of individuals and organizations dedicated to securing the rights and well-being of children. The Sixth Forum takes place as an unprecedented number of children around the world face infringement of their basic rights on multiple fronts. With one in five children currently living or fleeing from a conflict zone, and an estimated 774 million children suffering the compounding effects of poverty and climate change, the theme of the Forum will center aroundinterfaith cooperation to build a hopeful world for and with children.
Calling on all faith leaders and faith communities, Rev. Keishi Miyamoto, President of Arigatou International and Convenor of the GNRC said, “It is the moral responsibility of people of all faiths to protect the lives of children and ensure their safe and sound development.”
“This year’s Forum emphasizes harnessing the influence of religion for the safety and wellbeing of children. Our aim is not only to stimulate dialogue with faith leaders and children, but also to underscore the vital role of family and the wider community in safeguarding children,” Mrs. Dana Humaid, Chief Executive of the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities said.
Since its inauguration almost 25 years ago, GNRC programs have impacted approximately 100 million people globally. Of this number, at least 40 million people were reached through programs and interventions in response to the 10 Panama Commitments to End Violence Against Children that was launched at the Fifth Forum in 2017.
“The child is calling! As people of conscience, we must respond to, and answer this call. The Sixth Forum will demonstrate that it is indeed possible to build a safe, secure, and sustainable world when children, youth, and adults from diverse backgrounds and traditions work together,” Mr. Kul Gautam, Chair of the GNRC Sixth Forum International Organizing Committee, and former UNICEF Deputy Executive Director said.
The event will be streamed via the GNRC’s various media channels.
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About Arigatou International and the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC):
Arigatou International works with people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds to promote children’s rights and well-being. GNRC, a global-scale interfaith network of organizations and individuals specifically dedicated to securing the rights and wellbeing of children, was established in 2000 by Arigatou International.
Every five years, Arigatou International convenes a GNRC global forum, bringing together members, faith and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders, governments, intergovernmental organizations, young people, and children to advance the work of the Network.
About the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities (IAFSC):
The IAFSC was established to empower faith leaders to work for the safety and security of our communities, tackling issues such as child sexual abuse, extremism, radicalization, and human trafficking.
IAFSC facilitates the building of bridges between key stakeholders including faith communities, NGOs, and experts in various domains. Its current areas of focus are ‘Child Dignity in the Digital World’ and ‘Hate in our Communities’. The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities has been a partner of Arigatou International and a member of the GNRC since 2018.
For more information, please contact:
Arigatou International
Email: tokyo@arigatouinternational.org | gnrcsixthforum@arigatouinternational.org
Facebook: Arigatou International
Tokyo, Japan